History IAmNotShazam / Videogames

* The PlayerCharacter in ''VideoGame/HollowKnight'' is not called "Hollow Knight", in fact [[NoBiologicalSex they]] have no official name in-game. WordOfGod most commonly refers to them as "The Knight." [[spoiler:The Hollow Knight is the FinalBoss, a Vessel chosen to seal away the TrueFinalBoss, The Radiance.]]

* ''VideoGame/FruitNinja'', contrary to occasional belief, has no character named "Fruit Ninja" -- the FeaturelessProtagonist player character, whenever acknowledged, is only referred to as "the ninja", and the guy that appears in most promotional material is Sensei. The series treats "Fruit Ninja" as a title given to people with a knowledge of Juice Jitsu martial art, and most commonly uses it as a collective name for Sensei's four ninjas-in-training (Katsuro, Mari, Han, and Nobu) [[EdibleThemeClothing that wear clothing heavily reminisent of various fruits]].

** The Japanese version of the game is titled ''Parutena no Kagami'', which translates into "The Mirror of Palutena", a reference to the Goddess that Pit is trying to rescue. Nintendo of America likely tried to came up with a title that would perfectly describe the game without being too wieldy, while also avoiding the same confusion that ''Legend of Zelda'' and ''Metroid'' caused among players who mistook the game's title as the name of the protagonist.
** The [[RedshirtArmy Centurions]] actually are called Icarus in the Japanese version; in ''Kid Icarus: Of Myths and Monsters'', their forces are called the Icarus Army.

* There is nothing and no one in ''VideoGame/GenshinImpact'' named Genshin. It's not the name of any of the characters, nor is it the name of the world it takes place in -- the world is called Teyvat, and the two player characters are officially named (in the English localisation at least) Aether (the boy) and Lumine (the girl). "Genshin" is just the Japanese reading of the Chinese word "Yuánshén", which means "primordial god" or "original god". In its native China, the game is simply called ''Yuánshén'' -- the "Impact" was added to the English title to make a parallel with ''VideoGame/HonkaiImpact3rd'', the [[Creator/MiHoYo developers]]' previous game.

** Some believe Sonic's name to be literally ''Sonic the Hedgehog'', just as with Bugs Bunny, Mickey Mouse, etc. His name is just Sonic, the rest is a title. Made worse by [[WesternAnimation/SonicTheHedgehogSatAM the second DiC cartoon]] making this very mistake, with Sonic being called "Sonic Hedgehog" at a point, and having an uncle named Charles Hedgehog.

* [[InvertedTrope Inverted]] in case of ''VideoGame/RainbowSix''. Rainbow Six is the codename of the leader, the team is simply called Rainbow.

* ''VideoGame/{{Splatoon}}'' is the name of the series, but it isn't the name of the arena-inking game the Inklings and Octolings play in the context of the Splatoon universe. The name of that main game mode is "Turf War". "Splatoon" is what the teams of four are called in-universe (though it would probably be more accurate to call them [[JustForPun splire teams]]), with the New Squidbeak Splatoon also being the name of the militia you join in each game's story mode.

* ''VideoGame/BerserkAndTheBandOfTheHawk'' is the English title of what is otherwise known as ''Berserk Musou'', ''Musou'' (無双, literally "unparalleled") being the brand name used by ''VideoGame/DynastyWarriors'' (''Sangoku Musou'') and all of its spinoffs in Japan (e.g. ''Sengoku Musou'', ''Gundam Musou'', ''Kaizoku Musou''). The English title implies that "Berserk" is the name of the game's protagonist, as it follows the common CharacterNameAndTheNounPhrase title format, nevermind that the protagonist's name is actually Guts. "Berserk: Guts and the Band of the Hawk", or simply "Berserk: The Band of the Hawk" would have made more sense.

* In ''VideoGame/TatsunokoVsCapcom'', people call Yatterman-1 simply Anime/{{Yatterman}}. Yatterman is actually the name of the team, and Yatterman-1 and Yatterman-2 are the aliases. Yatterman-2 herself would be added to the game's UpdatedRerelease, but the problem still persists for some. Similarly with Anime/{{Karas}}; that's closer to his title or even his race than to his name (Karas are humans empowered by making a contract with the "Will of the City", giving them jurisdiction over a particular city on Earth; the Karas in ''Tatsunoko vs. Capcom''-- the main character of the OVA -- is actually named Otoha).

* A common mistake is to think that there is a character named Banjo-Kazooie in the ''VideoGame/BanjoKazooie'' games, but it is in fact a combination of names of the main characters, a bear named Banjo and his friend, a bird named Kazooie. ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosUltimate'' plays with this; their reveal trailer declares "BANJO-KAZOOIE ARE [[Creator/{{Rare}} RARING]] TO GO!" but they are still listed everywhere else as "Banjo & Kazooie."

* The Bishamon featured in ''[[VideoGame/{{Darkstalkers}} Vampire Savior]]'' (aka ''Darkstalkers 3'') is not actually the Bishamon from the previous game, who managed to free himself from the curse armor of Hanya, but the armor itself, having acquired a conscience of its own. The real Bishamon appears in the ending to ward off the evil spirit that has possessed Hanya.
** Adding to the confusion is that a) the possessed Hanya and Kien (the sword) ''still call themselves Bishamon'' in VS, because they like the name, and b) the real Bishamon is ''playable'' in the console versions, as Oboro Bishamon. In this case, Bishamon is in full control of the armor.
* In ''VideoGame/{{Defender}}'', the name of the game refers not to the name of your spaceship but to your mission. Defend the humans on the planet from being abducted by landers. The name of your ship is anybody's guess.

* Parodied in WebAnimation/DorklyOriginals [[https://youtu.be/wZK509PQuEg Mistaken Hero Identities.]]

* Up to his appearance in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'', [[VideoGame/FZero Captain Falcon]] was frequently referred to as "Blue Falcon," the name of his F-Zero racer.
* ''VideoGame/{{Fallout}}'': The little 50s mascot is named Vault Boy, not PIP Boy, your wrist/hand (it varies by game) computer. Doesn't help that ''[[VideoGame/FalloutTacticsBrotherhoodOfSteel Tactics]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/FalloutShelter Shelter]]'' got it wrong.

* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII'' has a variation. Sephiroth's most powerful form is often referred to as the "One Winged Angel", to the point of becoming the TropeNamer for [[OneWingedAngel monstrous villain transformations]]. Some fail to realize that the real official name for this form of Sephiroth is actually Safer/Seipher Sephiroth, and "One Winged Angel" is just the name of the music playing during his fight. In fact, the name is even a bit of a misnomer as Safer Sephiroth actually sports a grand total of seven wings, which you may recognize as being more than one. It probably does not help the misconception that the song One Winged Angel has become (in)famous of its own right as '''the''' bombastic over-the-top boss theme ''par excellence''.

* There is nothing and no one in ''VideoGame/GenshinImpact'' named Genshin. It's not the name of any of the characters, nor is it the name of the world it takes place in - the world is called Teyvat, and the two player characters are officially named (in the English localisation at least) Aether (the boy) and Lumine (the girl). "Genshin" is just the Japanese reading of the Chinese word "Yuánshén", which means "primordial god" or "original god". In its native China, the game is simply called ''Yuánshén'' - the "Impact" was added to the English title to make a parallel with ''VideoGame/HonkaiImpact3rd'', the [[Creator/MiHoYo developers]]' previous game.
* The player's ship in ''VideoGame/{{Gradius}}'' is called the Vic Viper. "Gradius" is the planet that it comes from.

* ''Franchise/{{Halo}}'' refers to the massive ringworld superweapons, not the main character who's generally referred to as Master Chief. Though technically, that's still not his name, but his military rank; his ''actual'' name is John-117, but absolutely no one will fault you if you just call him Master Chief.
** Whilst never really an issue, a whole meme was spawned off in 2007: [[Memes/VideoGames "I think Halo is a pretty cool guy. eh kills aleins and doesn't afraid of anything."]]

* The PlayerCharacter in ''VideoGame/HollowKnight'' is not called "Hollow Knight", in fact [[NoBiologicalSex they]] have no official name in-game. WordOfGod most commonly refers to them as "The Knight". [[spoiler:The Hollow Knight is the FinalBoss, a Vessel chosen to seal away the TrueFinalBoss, The Radiance]].

* The bunny girl the player controls in ''VideoGame/KeioFlyingSquadron'' is named Rami, not Keio. Keio is an era in [=19th=] century Japan (between 1865 and 1868) in which the game takes place.
* The main character of ''VideoGame/KidIcarus'' is named [[NonindicativeName Pit]], after [[CupidsArrow Cupid]]. Apparently the writers of ''WesternAnimation/CaptainNTheGameMaster'' didn't get the memo and use the [[CharacterTitle game's title as the character's name]], although it doesn't help matters that description on the back of the game's box does the same too.

** From ''The Legend of Zelda'' series, we have... Zelda. A number of people seem to be under the impression that Link, the protagonist, is named Zelda himself (which in turn causes some people to believe Link is a ''[[ViewerGenderConfusion girl]]'' -- not helped by the fact that he's often portrayed as very {{Bishonen}}). Zelda is, in fact, the [[DamselInDistress princess]]. This is a major FandomEnragingMisconception. The fact that the games allow you to name Link anything you want means that, if you like, you CAN make "Zelda" the main character (except for ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild Breath of the Wild]]'', where you can't name your save file; therefore, Link remains Link throughout the story). In fact, Zelda is the second most common thing for players to name Link (after, well, Link). Probably helps that inputting ZELDA as your name in some games unlocks special features; for example, the original ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaI'' unlocks the [[NewGamePlus second quest]] early.

** ''The Wind Waker'' isn't the name of Link's talking dragon boat in the game (he calls himself the King of Red Lions), but rather the name of the magic wand Link uses to control the weather in the game.

* ''[[{{VideoGame/LISA}} LISA: The Painful]]'' is about a man raising his daughter, the last woman on Earth... whose name is Buddy, not Lisa. In fact, nobody in the game is named Lisa - Lisa is actually the name of the man's late younger sister, who killed herself decades before the game's beginning. (''The Painful'' is technically a sequel to ''[[{{VideoGame/LISA}} LISA: The First]]'', a game which does feature Lisa as the protagonist - but, in a case of SequelDisplacement, most fans have only ever heard of ''The Painful''.)

* ''VideoGame/MegaManZero''. The main hero is not a "Mega Man", and the two words are only added in to associate it with the rest of the series. ([[MyHeroZero After all, the "Zero" handle isn't exactly rare these days...]]) The games themselves never screw this up, but the English manuals do -- and the manga adds to the mess by ''distinguishing'' between Zero and Mega Man Zero, making the latter Zero's SuperMode.

* ''VideoGame/MetalGear'' is the name of the nuclear-equipped walking tank that the player must destroy in the first game, so naturally you would assume that ''VideoGame/MetalGear2SolidSnake'' would follow suit and named its mech "Metal Gear 2", but it's actually the "Metal Gear D" (ironically, ''VideoGame/SnakesRevenge'', the non-canon NES sequel, did named its mech "Metal Gear 2", despite not using the "Metal Gear" name on the title). Likewise, the mech in the first ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid'' is called the "Metal Gear Rex", with the "Solid" on the title simply being a representation of the series's transition from [=2D=] to [=3D=].
** Since the "Solid" in ''Metal Gear Solid'' is also a reference to protagonist Solid Snake, you would naturally assume that the protagonist in ''VideoGame/MetalGearAcid'' is "Acid Snake", but not quite. The main character in the first ''Acid'' is still Solid Snake (or at least an AU version of Solid Snake) and while the protagonist of ''VideoGame/MetalGearAcid2'' is a different Snake (specifically a clone of the Solid Snake from the first ''Acid''), he's simply called "Snake" throughout the game and never "Acid Snake".
* ''Franchise/{{Metroid}}'' is named after [[AntagonistTitle the parasitic aliens]] that appear throughout the series. The main character is Samus Aran, whose goal in the [[VideoGame/Metroid1 first]] [[VideoGame/MetroidIIReturnOfSamus two]] games was to exterminate the species. Because the weapon-equipped suit of armor Samus wears makes her resemble a humanoid robot, and "Metroid" sounding like a portmanteau "metal android", Samus is often erroneously referred to as being named Metroid.[[note]]The reasoning with the name isn't too far off. The name really is a portmanteau, with the second word being android (either referring to her suited appearance or the EarlyInstallmentWeirdness of her being a cyborg rather than a [[BioAugmentation bio-augmented human]]). However, the first word is "metro"; as in a metro or subway system, referring to the labyrinthine, underground world Samus explores in that first game (and in many to follow).[[/note]] Compounding the issue is that Samus technically ''is'' a Metroid: she biologically becomes part-Metroid later on in the series' chronology (''VideoGame/MetroidFusion''), and both that game's manual and the ''VideoGame/MetroidPrimeTrilogy'' established that "Metroid" is a Chozo word meaning "ultimate warrior", which nicely doubles as a descriptor for what the [[InterspeciesAdoption human child they raised]] grew up to become (as well as the monstrous creatures they created). [[spoiler:Come ''VideoGame/MetroidDread'', Samus has now mutated into becoming a full-on humanoid Metroid, even getting the nickname "Ultimate Metroid", turning the name of the franchise into a ProtagonistTitle.]]

** Perpetuated in the animated series ''WesternAnimation/CaptainNTheGameMaster'' where [[BigBad Mother Brain]]'s hideout was called "Planet Metroid" instead of Planet Zebes. Apparently an EnforcedTrope at Nintendo's request, for the same reason Pit goes by "VideoGame/KidIcarus" in the show -- they wanted the name of the game said as often as possible so the kids would know which game to buy. (Samus herself never appears in the show though, as the writers didn't know she existed, though she does appear in the comics.)

* Subverted with ''VideoGame/NieR''. [[WordOfGod According to Yoko Taro]], "Nier" was originally supposed to be a WordPureeTitle rather than the name of the protagonist. However, thanks to the ExecutiveMeddling the protagonist was eventually named 'Nier' in the official side materials related to the game (inadvertently turning it into an ArtifactTitle since the future entries in the series don't feature him as a protagonist). The reasoning for this was that the protagonist couldn't have stayed completely nameless in these types of media, though the follow-up games VideoGame/NierAutomata and VideoGame/NierReincarnation still avoid mentioning him by name, instead referring to him as [[spoiler: "the Destroyer"]] or [[spoiler: "the man who destroyed the world"]].
* Ryu Hayabusa is not "''VideoGame/NinjaGaiden''" - gaiden means "side story," or "anecdote" - a title which is [[GratuitousJapanese nonsensical in Japanese]] and was only chosen because someone at Creator/{{Tecmo}} believed that the [[MarketBasedTitle Japanese title]] of ''Ninja Ryukenden'' (which loosely translates to the "Ninja Dragon Sword Tale") was difficult for non-Japanese speakers to pronounce, due to how commonly the Japanese word/name Ryu gets mispronounced as "Rye-you". Unfortunately, that still didn't prevent people from [[ViewerPronunciationConfusion butchering the pronunciation]] of ''gaiden'' (hint: it rhymes with "guy", not "gay").

* Zigzagged with ''VideoGame/{{Quake}}'', whose title in the original concept actually was the protagonist's name, while in the finished game it's the codename of the BigBad, who turns out to be the [[EldritchAbomination Lovecraftian deity]] [[MotherOfAThousandYoung Shub Niggurath]], while the protagonist is known as the Ranger.

* Nobody in ''VideoGame/{{Shenmue}}'' is named "Shenmue" -- it's actually the name of a tree that doesn't get introduced until the end of the ''second'' game.

* Not about a person, making it a close one between this and CowboyBebopAtHisComputer, but Alpha Centauri in ''VideoGame/SidMeiersAlphaCentauri'' is the name of the sun. (It isn't something the designers came up with; it exists in real life as a binary star system; see Website/ThatOtherWiki [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpha_Centauri for details]]) The planet's name is Chiron (aka Planet).

* The tall, faceless entity that's stalking you in ''VideoGame/{{Slender}}'' is called "The Slender Man." Despite this, a lot of people think its name is "Slender", which can often lead to [[FandomEnragingMisconception anger]] coming from fans of the [[Franchise/TheSlenderManMythos original stories]], as anybody calling the character Slender has probably only played the game.
** Some people [[InvertedTrope get the character's name right]] but extend it to the game.
* Some people call Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog ''Anime/SonicX'', after the title of an anime series based on the games. This was a common issue when the anime was popular. It caused a NewbieBoom of new ''Sonic'' fans, however if you read forum posts or fanfics you'll see that many children didn't realize that Sonic's name wasn't "Sonic X".
** It's possible that the show's theme song is partially responsible, due to including the line "Watch out for ''Sonic X!"''
** [[Creator/FourKidsEntertainment 4Kids]] themselves referred to Sonic the Hedgehog as "Sonic X" on their website, which makes it even more baffling since the dub itself [=IDs=] the character correctly.
** A Norwegian boy wanted to change his name to [[http://www.destructoid.com/six-year-old-boy-asks-king-to-change-his-name-to-sonic-x-129705.phtml Sonic X.]] The problem... Sonic doesn't really have a surname, and it certainly isn't X.
** Even better -- pretty much every country that bought the [=4Kids=] version were apparently ''told'' to use the "Sonic X" name for the character (in promotional materials, ads, etc.. Not in the series itself). And pronouncing "X" in English, no less.
** The subtitles for the first episode of ''Sonic X'' on Netflix identify Sonic as "Sonic X," despite the episode ending with him saying "I'm Sonic the Hedgehog."

* ''VideoGame/StarFox'' refers to the mercenary team from the game rather than its leader, Fox [=McCloud=].

* ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'': Mario isn't named "Super Mario." "Super Mario" is just the name for the form he has after he's eaten a Super Mushroom, not the character's actual name.
** It doesn't help that ''VideoGame/SuperMarioRPG'' called him Super Mario in the title demo.
** However calling the hero "Super Mario" is commonly used and justified in countries that have "Mario" as a common people's name.

* In ''VideoGame/TatsunokoVsCapcom'', people call Yatterman-1 simply Anime/{{Yatterman}}. Yatterman is actually the name of the team, and Yatterman-1 and Yatterman-2 are the aliases. Similarly with Anime/{{Karas}}; that's closer to his title or even his race than to his name (Karas are humans empowered by making a contract with the "Will of the City", giving them jurisdiction over a particular city on Earth; the Karas in ''Tatsunoko vs. Capcom''-- the main character of the OVA -- is actually named Otoha).

* ''Franchise/TombRaider'' is not Lara Croft's name; it's her vocation. The [[strike: first]] second game in the series was titled ''Tomb Raider II: Starring Lara Croft'', but this is still occasionally an issue. The films used the title ''Lara Croft: Tomb Raider'' to avoid this, and one game doesn't even use the "Tomb Raider" title (''Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light'').
* It's easy to think [[http://toren-game.com/ Toren]] refers to the game's heroine. In truth, it is a Portuguese word (the developers are Brazilian) for "tower," as the entire game takes place on a sky-high tower.
* No ''VideoGame/{{Touhou}}'' character falls victim to this individually, but they do all get plastered with it collectively, overseas at least. [[JustifiedTrope To be fair]], there's no canonical collective name for all the characters, but what else do you call the entire FantasyKitchenSink?

* In ''VideoGame/TwistedMetal'', there is an ice cream truck with a giant clown head atop it. This is Sweet Tooth. The driver of Sweet Tooth is a flaming-headed MonsterClown. ''His'' name is Needles Kane. 989 Studios got this mixed up, calling both the car and its driver Sweet Tooth; once Incog, Inc. (formed by former [=SingleTrac=] employees) got the rights back, they restored Needles Kane's proper name back to him.

* ''[[VideoGame/XenobladeChronicles Xenoblade]]'' series has the signature red sword of their respective protagonists:

* The PlayerCharacter in ''VideoGame/HollowKnight'' is not called "Hollow Knight", in fact [[NoBiologicalSex they]] have no official name in-game. WordOfGod most commonly refers to them as "The Knight". The Hollow Knight is the FinalBoss, a Vessel chosen to seal away the TrueFinalBoss, [[spoiler:The Radiance]].

** Despite the title, and what both comic adaptations claimed, there wasn't a team called Chaotix in ''VideoGame/KnucklesChaotix''. The name is just a reference to the game's chaotic gameplay; the player characters aren't part of an officially named team. This confusion stems from how three of the characters from the game eventually went on to form the Chaotix Detective Agency (aka Team Chaotix) in ''[[VideoGames/Sonic Heroes]]'', with said game displacing the characters' first appearance in ''Chaotix''. This means that contrary to popular fan belief, Knuckles and Mighty were never members of the team.

* The protagonist in the arcade version of ''VideoGame/{{Astyanax}}'' (confusingly localized as ''[[SpellMyNameWithAThe The Astyanax]]'') is named Roche, rather than Astyanax as in the NES game.

** Despite the title, and what both comic adaptations claimed, there wasn't a team called Chaotix in ''VideoGame/KnucklesChaotix''. The name is just a reference to the game's chaotic gameplay; the player characters aren't part of an officially named team. Three of the characters from the game eventually went on to form the Chaotix Detective Agency (aka Team Chaotix), but this happened [[VideoGame/SonicHeroes much later]], which means that contrary to popular fan belief, Knuckles and Mighty were never members of the team.

* ''The Anacrusis'', a ''VideoGame/Left4Dead'' style 4-player coop shooter, takes place on a spaceship... called the ''Isolode''.

* ''VideoGame/{{Arkanoid}}'' is a famous case. The paddle that you're controlling? That's called the Vaus. The [[EenieMeenieMinyMoai giant Moai head]] serving as the final boss? That's Doh (or [=DoH=], depending on the game). The Arkanoid is the spaceship that blows up at the beginning, only appearing in the opening crawl.